The airports are a close match for some former 2nd TAF (later RAF Germany) stations. From memory. they were, formerly (and probably) Wildenrath. Geilenkirchen Butzweilerhof Brugen etc. I was stationed nearby when some of these stations were in progress of being built from about 1951 onwards. Just a sponteneous thought.

US forces did not have a presence in this part of Northern Germany as this area was the battle task of the British and Canadian Armies until the Germans surrendered.

However,the Allied plans for the occupation of Northen Germany included a US enclave to be set up from Bremen and the Weser estuary up to and including Bremerhaven to provided the Americans with a major port and stores area to supply the US occupied zone of Southern Germany.This became effective from 1 May 1945 and evenually on 7 May 1945,the first units of the US 29 Division,entitled 'Task Force Bremen' arrived and stayed until December 1945 when relief of the Division started with the arrival of the US 78 Division, 311 Infantry Regiment.The enclave arrangement existed until the creation of the German Federal Republic.

During the hectic days of summer 1945,the US 29 Division had the responsibilty of guard duties,manning perimeter check points,countering black market activities and arresting Nazi officials.In addition, between 23 July and 21 November 1945, the Division received and processed over 185.000 German POWs who had been brought from Norway by ship and took care of 8000 displaced persons (DPs), mostly Poles who were housed in four DP camps around Bremen.

Could the second batch of photographs have been liberated from the German POWs shipped in from Norway?

Going by the womens fashion I would suggest 1890 to 1900 maximum. After this the leg-o-mutton sleeves were going out in favour of the tighter Edwardian styles. I can double check this with a reference book i have if needs be. Hope that helps.

The article on the RAD does not reveal their infamous behaviour in the destruction of Lidice.The RAD Platoon No 1/385 was responsible for the destruction of the village and then went on to remove all trace of the dead in Lidice cemetery.They plundered 60 vaults,140 large family tombs and about 200 single graves and removed all trace of the being of a cemetery.Gold and medallions were plundered from graves.Gravestones and memorials were then transported to Prague where the RAD used them in the foundations for their barracks at Veleslavin.

All that was supposed to have an 'educational influence' on the RAD men as Alexander Commichau said in a letter to the Reich RAD Commander; 'A young man from the Reich Working Service sees that the German sword will fall hard and destroy entirely the sources of disturbance not only on the front, but also in the hinterland......'

They must have been content with their deed by the photographs that were taken.It took all of 1943 to complete the destruction and Lina Heydrich personally attended the ceremony when the Platoon was given the honorary name 'Reinhard Heydrich' in September 1942.

Ok, here is a page of a letter indicating that dad was in north Germany up around the Baltic, town of Schwerin. See bottom of page 3 and top of page 4. This appears to be just a little north and east of Loberich

Attached Thumbnails

187th Engineer Combat Battalion. They ferried the 79th Infantry Division across the Rhine on 24 Mar 1945. They built two bridges across the Rhine Herne Canal-I don't know what unit they were supporting.

Here are a couple of pictures with the first and second having written on the back, Baltic Sea. I scanned the back of the third where it indicates meeting the Russians. Interesting, note the black captain. I thought we were segregated at that time.

Attached Thumbnails

Hi Alabama - My grandfather served in the 187th Engineer Combat Battalion C Company. We have the book on the company but are still looking for more info on where they were and everything. Do you have any pictures or documents from the 187th? Thanks!